Valve



lo. B. HUBER March 14, 1933.

VALVE Filed Deaf 29, 1930 Suunto@ HLANDU E. fri/BER- Patented Mar. I4, 1933 ORLANDO B. HUBER, or MILWAUKEE, WIscoNsIN y VALVEl Application le December 29, 17930. Serial No. 315,324.1

f This invention relatesfto plumbing fixtures and more particularly to valves and actuating means therefor. v f Numerous types of valves vhave been incorporated in plumbing fixtures and varying measures of successful operation have been attained. Mostftypes have functioned satisfactorily for a short time andthenbecome leaky and ineffective due to wear, misalignment, for faulty functioning of the actuating mechanism. y

One object of the present invention is toV overcome the above mentioned defects by providing a hollow expansible valve which will retain its effectiveness for an indefinite period ofvtime. l e

Another object is the provision in a plumbing fixture of a' flexible connection between the valve and its actuating mechanism. f

prove the construction of devices ofthis character by materially reducing their costand increasing their life and effectiveness.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing: f Figure 1V is a vertical sectional view through a plumbing fixture showing a valve constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention togetherwithactuating means therefor. f

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2v of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectionalv view through the valve and actuating means taken at right angles to the showing in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified form of the valve.

The plumbing fixturev selected for illustrating the `valve and actuating means therefor comprises an overflow pipe 10 provided at its lower extremity with a usual T-fitting 11. Anv elbow 12 is retained on the upper extremity of the pipe 10 `in the usual manner and registers with an overflow opening in the wall 13 of the tub. The elbow 1 2 is provided with a usual flange portion 14 adapted to surround the overflow opening and bear against the wall of the tub. A ring 15 is adapted to be A further object is to simplify and im-- passed through4 the overflow opening of the tub and engage an internally threaded portion of the elbow 12. `A flangel formed on thering serves to engage the inner wall of 1 the tub to retain Athe elbow in desired posi- 5 5v tion and also serves as a means to 'which an escutcheon 17. may be securedbymeans of screws 18. The escutcheon is provided with` the usual water drainage openings 19. .The i i i escutcheon is provided with a usual" central- Q ly disposed vertical slot 20,through whicha valve actuating lever 21 may be inserted and manipulated in amannerto b ehereinafter.,` more specifically described. f l

The T-itting 1 1 is provided -witha'long- 65. tudinal; bore which forms a valve,v chamber 22. This chamber 22 is Vinopen communication with the .lower extremity. of the fittingwhich is adapted to receive lthe discharge or soil pipe. (not shown).-` VThehorizontal arml Y of thegfitting 11 is threaded in the usual I'nan-I ner t0 receive the drainpipe. (not shown)` which leads from the waste opening of the tub. A passage 23 in the horizontal-arm ofy the fitting leads to the valve chamberA 22 and 75 communication between the drain pipe vand soil pipe is controlled by a valve 24.

The valve 24 comprises a hollow cylindrical lmember 25 longitudinally 'split to make expansible to effect a sealing contact with the wall of the valve chamber `22. A coil spring26 is transversely disposed within the hollow cylindrical valve 24 to normallytend to spread the member 25 to insure sealing contact with the wall of thevalve chamber. `-This g5 coil spring 26.is fastenedtothe inner wall of the yvalve 24 in any approved manner.` In Figure .3 of the drawing the connection is effected by the use of soldenv A modified form of spring mounting is shown in Figure 4 and will hereinafter b e more specificallydescribed. The coil spring 26serves a dual purpose of maintaining the expansible valve. in contact with the wall of they chamber and also to provide a flexible means upon Awhich the valve actuating mechanism may 1 bel mounted. The Yvalve actuating mechanism` comprises a fitting 27 provided with a bore 28 for receiving the spring26 prior to its application 10Q to the valve 24. An extended portionv 29 of the fitting is provided with a screwthreaded bore 30 adapted to receive the threaded end of aconnector link 31. A suitable lock nut, carried on the link 31, serves to effect a locking connection when the parts have been ad'- justed to ythe desired position. The upper end of the link 31 is pivotally mounted upon apin 32 carried on the inner end of the actuating lever v21. The lever 21 is rockably mounted on a pin 33 which is positioned in the ears 34 on the escutcheon 17. A suitable operating handle 35 is retained on the outer extremity of the lever 21.l 4

A brief description of the operation of the valveactuating means will serve to illustrate the simplicity andthe positive Voperation ofv Lthe valve. As the handle 35 is drawn downwardly, the lever 21 Vis rocked upon the pin 33 and the valvey 24 Vis raised throughthel action o f-the link 31 and the fitting 27 which is mounted upon `the coil spring 26. As the valve 24 is raised communication between the l drain pip'eof the tub and the discharge or soilr pipe is established to thereby drain the water from the tub. The valve may be closed merely by raising the handle 35 until the lower extremity of the valve 24 contacts with the inwardly directed flange 36 which is formed at the lower end of the valve chamber 22.V

yIt will be noted'at thistime that the construction `of the valve is such that avirtually unimpeded passage is provided for the free passage of water from the overflow Apipe to the discharge" pipe at all times by reason Vof the hollow formation of the valve 24. It

will also be noted that the entire valve and actuating mechanism may readily be withdrawn from the fixture through the overflow pipe 10 merely by removing the escutcheon 17.

The valve 24 shown in Figure 4 of the drawing is similar in many respects tothat v illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and comprises a vmember 25, a coil spring 26', a fitting 27 a bore 28 `for receiving the coil spring 26, an extended portion 29 on the fitting and a link 31 adjustably connected tothe valve in the manner previously described. The modification in vconstruction liesy in the mounting means for the spring 26. VIn the Vpresent instance the member 25 is provided with threaded 'holes 37 adapted to receive studs 37 whichextend into the ends of the coil spring 26. Collars 38 are positioned upon the inner wall of the member 25 `in such a manner that their inwardly directed flanges 39 actually enter into enlarged ends 40 formed at the i ends of the bore 28.Y By reason of this construction itis possible to build up small valve f mechanisms embodying all of the advantages reason of their becoming misshapen. In the construction illustrated in Figure 4 it will be apparent that virtually no strain is placed upon the spring 26. The flanges 39 contact with the ends 40 of the fitting surrounding the `bore 28 to take the strain of valve motion.

It will readilyfbjeseen from the foregoing that a simple, inexpensive, and effective valve has been provided which will overcome the dimculties common `in present types of plumbing fixtures. While the valve shown and described is designed primarily. for operation by longitudinal displacement, it is quite obvious that a rotatable valve might well be substituted therefor. vA port inthe valve membercould be provided so that the functioning of the rotatable valve would 'bef While the device has'been described in con-.-Y

siderable detail, various changes may .be made in its embodiment without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims. v

Iclaim:- C f l. The. combination of-a cylindrical'valve chamber having a port in the wall thereof, a hollow expansible valve`in sealing contact with the wall of said chamber for controlling said port, a transversely disposed coil spring fixed in, said valve, and an operating-stem flexibly connectedto said valve through said spring.v r

2. The combination of a cylindrical valve chamber having a port in the wall thereof, a hollow cylindrical valve within said chamlilo ber for controlling said port, said valve being chamber having ay port in the wall thereof, Y

a hollow expansible valve vin sealing contact with the wall of said chamber-for controlling said port, a transversely disposed coil spring` fixed in the said valve, a valve actuating member operatively-connected to saidcoil spring,

and means carried by'said valve to limit tthe V flexible connection between said actuating member and said valve. f 'l 4.` The combination of a cylindrical Ychamber and a port in the wall thereof, a' hollow cylindrical valve withinv said chamber for l controlling said port, said valveibeing `longi`- v tudinally split', a transversely disposed coil spring positioned in said valve, said spring vnormally tending to, spreadsaidl valve into sealing contact with the wallsof said chamber, an actuating member flexiblyV connected Y to said valve through said spring, and means carried by said valve for limiting the flexibility between said actuating member and said valve.

5. The combination of a cylindrical valve chamber having a port in the wall thereof, an expansible valve in said chamber, a spring in said Valve for maintaining a sealing con- Y itact between said valve and the wall of said chamber, and valve actuating mechanism IOIeXibly connected to said valve through said spring.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe iny name this 13th day of December, 1930.

` ORLANDO B. HUBER. 15 Y 

